Effect of 6-benzyladenine (BA) and gibberellic acid (GA4+7) application on feathering of plum cultivars in nursery

In 1998 an experiment was carried out to determine the effect of benzyladenine (BA) on feathering of one year old sweet cherry and apple trees in nursery. The aim of trial was to determine the optimal concentration, treatment frequency and period length. There are three plum varieties involved into the experiment: Althan's Gage, Bluefre and Stanley. Based on results it is suggested that for plum cultivars low concentration (0.04 - 0,02 %) should be applied with increased treating period (from 7 to at 10 days) and additional gibberellic acid (GA 4+7) treatment. Our results confirm the average opinion in literature is that low BA concentration is optimal for good feathering of young plum trees in nursery in contrary to sweet cherry. Higher concentration (0,06 -0,08 %) may cause short laterals or phytotoxic symptoms on plum trees.